A very popular type of fitness exercise machine, elliptical trainers which were first seen in the shops in 1995 and have developed enormously since then. An elliptical cross trainer was introduced by Reebok that had moving arms so it gave a workout to both lower and upper body at the same time. They have become extremely popular in commercial gyms and for home use for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include giving a low impact exercise that does not harm the hips, back, knees or joints. The exercise they provide is also weight-bearing which is very good to help maintain bone density, especially in postmenopausal women and they also efficiently burn calories. The machines themselves are smaller than treadmills and do not take up too much space. They are also low maintenance which helps to keep costs down. They are called crosstrainers because they combine both aerobic and resistance training. The resistance can be adjusted to improve muscle tone in the legs and arms.
Elliptical trainers come in two types, rear and front driven. Rear driven elliptical trainers have a deeper movement and feel more like a steppper while the front driven trainers have a shallower movement and feel more like running. They can be used in both forward and backward motion which helps to tune up the muscles in the back of the legs and gives some variety to the training. Some of the expensive trainers have a motorized incline which will increase the level of training. Another feature on some models are foot plates that pivot to match the natural foot position.
Elliptical trainers are low impact fitness machines so they will not put undue strain on joints, knees and back. They are suitable therefore for people who have problems in these areas. They give a very good aerobic workout which can help with blood pressure, heart problems and stress and are very good when used in moderate to high level for lowering body fat levels.
When you’re buying an elliptical trainer find out the weight of the flywheel. Heavier flywheels give a smoother motion. Some cheaper models with lighter flywheels will feel that they are sticking at certain points of the movement which causes you to use more pressure . This can put strain on your knees and make the machine less comfortable to use. The number of resistance levels is also important as you want to be able to change resistance levels depending on whether you want a good aerobic workout or a gentler but higher resistance workout.
Most models of elliptical trainers will have a variety of built-in workout programs, the more expensive ones of course will have more. It may be worth buying one that has quite a variety of programs as this can help motivation as you won’t be bored by using the same program over and over again. Some models have built-in heart rate programs which adjust the incline or speed to keep your heart rate at a preset level. Other programs include weight loss programs and hill run programs.
Whichever type of fitness elliptical trainer you are going to buy make sure you know how it works and ensure that it has a suitable warranty. It may be a good idea to try one out in the local gym to see how comfortable it is and if you like the motion before you buy.
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